Cigar lighter



June 6, 1939. F. RxNGER -CIGAR LIGHTER Filed NOV. 29, 1937 45 be fed.

Patented June' 6, 1939 lPATENT'o1-F1os CIGAR LIGHTER Ferdinand Ringer, Vienna, ustria Application November 29, 1937, Serial No. 177,096 In Austria December 1, 1936 7 Claims.

My invention relates tol cigar lighters comprising a body of solid fuel adapted to be ignited by a spark producingigniting device. For the use of such fuel bodies. cigar lighters are suitable in 5 which vthe face of the fuel body before being ignited is roughened or loosened, this action being hereinafter referred to as roughening. In order that the roughening tool may properly operate, the fuel body must be pressed against l or moved to contact withthe roughening device prior to the actuation of the roughening device, whereas the fuel body must be held in position o n being ignited. It has already been proposed to so construct the roughening device of cigar l lighters using said devices, that it serves itself as a stop for theI fuel' body whichis constantly pressed against the roughening device, or to provide a separate stop or a grid serving as a stop for the fuel body which latter is roughened traverse across the opening of the grid. These known arrangements are open tothe objection that the face of the fuel body is partly covered when ignition is intended to be effected which not only interferes with a reliable ignition but also results in an irregular burning oif of the fuel body. Besides that the incomplete combustion due to the permanent contact with metal parts results in theA formation of residues and undesirable by-products. Moreover the metal parts undergo changes in texture and are deformed'or even destroyed under the action of the heat of the flame.

For avoiding the deficiencies just referredto, according to the present invention 'a clamping device is provided which automatically firmly engages the fuel body in its guide at a point remote from the face to be roughened in a manner known per se, at least at the moment of making the cigar lighter ready for use (say by opening the cover or pulling out the rubbing pin). while on putting the cigar lighter out of use (say by closing the cover or pushing in the rubbing pin respectively) the fuel body is automatically disengaged for permitting kthe same to 'I'he use of such clamping devices has already been proposed for cigar lighters with igniting sticks adapted to be repeatedly ignited by rubbing. yIn such cigar lighters, however, on the one hand no roughening devices are used and on the other hand the problems connected with the extraneous ignition do not. occur at all. More particularly the requirement met with in the case of extraneous ignition of an unimpeded access of the stream of sparks to the roughened face of the fuel body and the avoiding of losses in heat by cooling do not play any part in the case of cigar lighters of the type last referred to.

The annexed set of drawings illustrates by way of example several construction forms of a cigar lighter embodying" the present invention. 5

Fig. l shows a side view of a constructional vlform of the cigar lighter according to the invention. the parts of the construction enclosed by the lighter box being indicated by dotted lines;

Figs. 2 and 3 show other modifications of the 10 lighter in cross section;

Figs. 4 and 5 are representing further modifications of the lighter according to Fig. l. Finally,

Fig. 6 shows a rubbing cigar lighter con-- structed according to the present invention modil5 fying the construction of Fig. 1.

In the constructional form illustrated in Fig. 1,

I is the casing and 2 is the cover of the cigar lighter. 4 is a control bar suitably guided and forced against a stop 3 by a spring 5 abutting against the bottom of the casing, In the cover the usual rubbing wheel 6 is mounted against which a spark producing rod say consisting of an alloy of cerium and iron is elastically forced and; guided in a suitable sleeve 1, so that on 2- opening the cover in the usual well known mano ner the rubbing wheel 6 is rotated by means of a suitable mechanism not shown and a stream of sparks is produced.

The rod-like shaped fuel body 8 consisting of combustible fibres and an agglomerant likewise combustible, in which said fibres are embedded, is guided in a sleeve 9 having a slot at its upper end and being conical at its outer side, so that a clamping ring III slidably mounted on the 35 conical part `of the sleeve 9 and acted upon by a spring 2I abuttingagainst the bottom of the casing may cause the fuel body 8 to be clamped in the sleeve 9.

A lever I2 is pivoted at II in the casing and 40 carries at one end an arm projecting from the body of said lever at substantially right angles. 'Ihis arm carries on one side points, teeth I3 or similar elements adapted to loosen or roughen.

A pusher I5 provided with a longitudinal slot 45 I6 is pivoted at I4 to the lever I2. Into the slot I6 engages a pin I'I fast on the casing or on a part secured to the casing. A spring I8 secured to the casing permanently tends to turn the lever I2 in an anticlockwise direction so that 50 the free end of the pusher I5 is pressed against an incline I9 provided on the member 4.

In the position of the parts of the cigar lighter as shown in Fig. l the cover 2 is closed and the lever I2 is in its extreme left hand position in i5 that its parts canelastically recede from each other thus liberating the fuel body which is forced against the device I3 bythe spring 20.

. If now the cover 2 is opened it pushes downward the control element 4 compressing the spring 5, and the pusher I5 is shifted to the right by the incline I9 turning the lever `I2 in the clockwise direction against the action of the spring I8. whereby the teeth I3`loosen or roughen the face of the fuel body, while at the same time the Secured.

clamping ring I 0 is disengaged from the stop I5' of the cover or the pusher andis pushed upwards by the spring 2|, so that the end of the sleeve 9 is contracted and the fuel body is firmly clamped. More particularly, the pusher I5 by its travel towards the right raises the leverI I2, which is pivoted at II, and thereby is caused toV pivot around pin I1. 'I'he right side of the pusher I5 is raised consequently and the stop I5' travels up! wardly for a corresponding distance. 'I'his permits the clamping ring III to travel upwardly by reason of the action of spring 2I until it engages the.conical upper end `of sleeve 9; The opening of the cover'resulted simultaneously in producing the sparks in the usual manner which sparks on hitting the loosened or roughened face of the fuel body ignite the latter. By closing the cover the llame is extinguished and the parts are returned into the position shown in Fig. 1.

The disengagement of the clamping, ring I 9 can also be effected manually by means of moving a knob connected with the clamping ring and extending to the outside of the lighter through a slot in the casing I. Such an arrangement is not shown in Fig. 1, butillustrated in Fig. 5, where knob II is shown to extend to the outside of the casing, the knob can be shifted manually while the cover 2 is open. 'Ihe insertion of a replacement fuel body 3 is facilitated by such arrangement.

It will be understood that by repeated actuation of the device I3 the face of the fuel body exposed Ato the stream of sparks will be roughened and thereby an incline is formed on the fuel body which corresponds to the path of the teeth I3 oscillating aroundthe pivot point II. 'I'his path is situated within the stream of sparks bringing about the ignition and thus a proper ignition is Inl the construction'al form illustrated by Fig. 2 the roughening device I3 is mounted on an arm 22, pivoted at 23 onV the cover 2. A spring 24 forces the arm 22 carrying the device I3 against the fuel body 8. is pivoted in the cover at 26, remains, while the cover is in closed position, in engagement with an arm 21 of a lever 29 pivoted at 23 in the casing. A solid or hollow metallic block 2 abuts on arm 25 and acts as a stop for it. 'I'he free end of lever 29 is connected with the clamping ring Il) so that on closing the cover the ring I II is pushed downwards against the action of the`spring 2I, thusA liberating the fuel bodyv in the slotted end of the sleeve, Whereas on opening the cover the lever' 21, 29 is freed and the spring 2I causes the fuel body to be clamped in position in the same manner as above described with reference to Fig. 1.

.On opening the cover the device I3 is pulled disc 34 is rigidly connected Furthermore an arm 25 which Y across the face of the fuel body, or roughening this, face. the cover and the .arrangement of the latter, as also the arrangement of the igniting device comprising a rod of an alloy of cerium and iron are substantially the same in construction as in the cigar lighters heretofore constructed.

In the constructional form illustrated in Fig. 3 -there is also provided an arm 22' `mounted in the cover and carrying the roughening device I3, said arm carrying at its free end a guiding roller 30 moving along a guide element 3I secured in the casing. A spring 24" attached'on `the one hand to the cover 2 and on the other hand to the arm 22' tends to pull the free end of the arm 22 with its guiding roller 30 against the guide element 3|. `This guide element isso shaped that thus loosening when the cover is closed the device I3 is above the fuel body 8. In the casing there is furthermore an arm 33 pivoted at 32 and connected to the clamping ring Ill. On closing the cover 2 the arm 33 is swung downwards by the arm 22', when the latter reaches the bottom side of the guide element 3|, whereby the clamping ring I0 is moved downward and the fuel body 8 is liberated in the same manner as described withv reference to Fig. l and 2, so that the spring 20 is allowed to press the said body against the device I3. The parts 22', I3, 3|, 33 are arranged laterally of the Afuel body, for instance in a place situated between the fuel body 8 and a side wall of the -casing I. 'I'he spring actuated arm 49 tends to hold the cover 2 in its open position. Otherwise the operation of this cigar lighter is the same as that described with reference t'o Figs. l and 2.

In the constructional form illustrated i'n Fig. 4 the sleeve 9 carrying the fuelbody is arranged to be rotatable around its geometrical axis. A with the sleeve 9 said disc projecting through a slot 35vin the wall of the casing.

The projection 36 serving for locking the cover 2 is .carried by one arm of a ltwo armed lever 31, pivoted in the casing at 38. A spring indicated at 40 tends to 4vhold the lever 31 in thatposition in which the locking hook 39 carried by the cover 2 and capable of receding resiliently strikes against the projection 36 on closing the cover. The disc 34 carries a. pin 4I which on-turning the disc 34 strikes against the end of the lever 31, latter around'its pivot pin 33, so that the projection is turned out of the path ofthe locking hook 39.

cover of the cigar lighter and is above the fuel f body 9 as long as the'cover lv is closed. If with the cover being still closed the disc 34 is turned, then corresponding to the turning movement of of the sleeve 9 up to the end of the lever 31 a roughening of the face of the fuel body 3 is brought about by the device I3. On continuing the rotating of the disc 34 the lever 31 will be turned and thereby the pro-y jection 36 is disengaged from the hook 39 and the cover is automatically opened by the usual cover spring and at the same time the production of sparks and the ignition is eifected'in the usual manner. Before closing the cover the projection 36 must be turned back into the locking position by turning the disc 34 in the opposite direction or this turning back may be brought about automatically, by a spring.

'I'he feed of the fuel body is effected when the cover 2 is closed, by means of a bracket (not shown) on the cover 2, which on closing the cover turning the The locking device of the striking of the pin 4I on 'I .strikes against the clamping ring In and pushes it downward against the action of the spring 2|.

In the constructional form illustrated in Fig. 5 the rotation of the sleeve 9 enclosing the fuel body 8 is brought about by an arm 88 secured geration of this constructional form of the cigar lighteris the same as that of the constructional form illustrated in Fig. 4.

The constructional form illustrated in Fig, 6 has for its object the application of the present invention to a rubbing cigar lighter. The casing I of a rubbing cigar lighter comprises a chamber 4|' at the bottom of which the roughening device I9 is mounted, preferably yieldingly., On the outside of the casing is provided'a rubbing surface 42. In the chamber 4|' the carrier of the bar shaped fuel body 8 is mounted. This carrier consists of asleeve 9 directly enclosing the fuel body 8 and slotted in its upper part. 'I'his sleeve 9 encloses a spring 20'serving for feeding the fuel body 8. On the sleeve 9 is slidably mounted a clamping ring cr sleeve 43 onto which is screwed the hollow head 44 projecting from the casing I when the carrier is inserted into the chamber 4I TheY free end of the sleeve 43 is conical in shape and carries a rod 45 of an alloy of cerium and iron serving for producing sparks at the rubbing surface 42. A spring 2| interposed between the bottom of the sleeve 9 and the head 44 forces the end ofthe sleeve 9 against the conical part of the sleeve 43, whereby the fuel body 8v is firmly clamped. Furthermore `the sleeve 9 carries a pin 46 projecting through a hole in the sleeve 43 or the head 44 and being introduced into a slot 41 -in the wall of the casing I when the carrier is inserted into the chamber `4 I', said slot comprising two parts at right angles to each other.

On inserting the carrier of the fuel body 8 into the chamber 4|' theY pin 46 enters into that part of the slot 41, which is parallel to the direction of insertion, and slides along the slot 41 until it abuts against the edge of the slot. Now the pin 48 prevents the sleeve 9 from continuing its rectilinear movement, so that then it is only the sleeve 43 that continues its movement, the spring 2| being compressed thereby liberating the fuel body 8 and allowing it to be fed. When the-pressure on the carrier directed to the inside of the casing ceases, the spring 2| causes the sleeve 43 to move backwards and the fuel body 8 to be clamped again. The carrier is prevented from falling out of the chamber 4I by balls 48, connected with springs (not shown) secured to the wall of the chamber 4|', which springs force said balls into recesses on the outside of the sleeve 43. If'now in this position of the parts the sleeve 48 is turned the pin 46 enters the second part of the slot f 41" which is at right angles to the first part whereby the carrier is locked in its position and at the same time by said turning the face of the fuel body 8 is roughened by the device I9.

If the carrier is turned in the reverse direction, so that the pin`48 reenters the part of the slot 41 parallel to the direction of insertion, the carrier can be pulled out of the chamber 4I', the resistance of the spring actuated balls 48 being overcome, whereupon by rubbing the cerium-iron rod 45 on the rubbing surface 42 the sparks igniting the fuel body 8 are produced.

It will be understood that in detail the construction of the cigar lighter showing the essential features of the present invention may be varied in many directions without departing from the essence -of the invention. Thus for instance the oscillating lmovement required for ignition may be imparted to the fuel body while the lroughening device is stationary, or a rotary movebe laid free prior to each ignition by roughening or loosening.

v What I claim is:

1. A cigar lighter comprising a housing, a cover on said housing, a solid fuel body, a guide member adapted to enclose said fuel body, roughening means acting against the face of said fuel body, spark producing means coming into operation after the yaction of said roughening means, clamping means adapted to hold firmly said fuel body in said guide at a point below the face to be roughened, a feed spring for said fuel body controlling by said clamping device, means for engaging and disengaging said controllng device,

and connecting means between said controlling A means and said cover.

- 2. A cigar lighter. as claimed in claiin l, in which the cover of the casing of the cigar lighter is adapted, on moving for opening and closing saidcasing, to impart an oscillating movement to the said roughening device, and interconnecting means between the cover and the clamping device serving to bring about the opening and closing of the clamping device in immediate dependency of the movement of the cover.

3. A cigar lighter as claimed in claim 1, in which thecover of the casing of the cigar lighter is adapted, on moving for opening and closing said casing, to impart an oscillating movement to the said roughening device, and interconnecting means between the cover and the clamping device serving to bring about the opening and closing of the clamping device in immediate dependency of the movement of the cover, the cover being adapted to actuate a movable control element which is under the action of a spring and provided with a camlike part which control `element acts on an intermediate member such as a pusher operatively connected with the rougheningrdevice capable of making an oscillating movement and with the clamping device for the fuel body.

4. A cigar lighter as claimed in claim l, in which the fuel rod and the roughening device are positioned so as to bring about the roughening of the-fuel rod by the rotary movement of the said.

rotary movement on the one hand and the cover on the other h'and, adapted to control the opening of the cover of the cigar lighter, the movement of the igniting device and the closing movement of the clamping device of the fuel rod being in dependency of the rotation of said fuel rod.

5. A cigar lighter as claimed in claim l, in which the fuel rod and the roughening device are positioned so as to bring about the roughening connection between the means controlling the said rotary movement on the one hand.l and the cover onthe other hand. adapted to control the opening of the cover of the cigar lighter,` the movement ofthe igniting deviceA and the closing v movement of the clamping device of the fuel rod being in vdependency of the rotation of said fuel rod, said rotating means comprising a support of said fuel lrod and an arm in engagement with said support and said cover. whereby said support is rotated by the closing and opening of said cover.

6. A cigar lighter as claimed in claim l, designed for rubbing manipulationfurther characterised by the fact that the clamping device of the vfuel body is operatively connected with an element controlling the movements of the fuel rod and its guide, in a manner ascertaining that on inserting the carrier of the fuel body into the casing of the cigar lighter theclamping device of arenoso thefuelbodyisreleasedandthespringaetintod fuelbodyisforcedagainsttherough'eningdevlce encloaedinthecasing. v` v v 7. A cigar lighter as claimed in claim 1, de-

signed for rubbing manipulation further characterised by the fact that lthe clamping device of the fuel bodyr is operatively connected with an element controlling the movements of the -fuel rod and its luide. in a manner al that on inserting the carrier of the fuel body -into the casing of the cigar lighter the clamping device of the fuel body is released and the spring actuatedi'uelbodyisforcedagainattheroughening Adevice enclosed in the casing. further characterisedby the fact that between the fuel carrier and the casing an interconnection is provided so as to bring about a rotary movement of the fuel body relatively to the roughening device through the locking movement inthe clamlllna position of the fuel carrier introduced into the Il'lmmumm man. 

